Red Footed Cannibalfly eats Bumble Bee

Subject: Large Flying Bug Location: Maryland Eastern Shore June 12, 2016 5:58 pm I found this guy with a large bumblebee in its grasp. I searched extensively but got nowhere. Thanks for your help! Signature: Nick

Red Footed Cannibalfly eats Bumble Bee

Dear Nick, Large Robber Flies are arguably the most adept aerial predators in the insect world. Dragonflies are larger, but they don’t tend to prey on larger insects, mainly satisfying themselves with mosquitoes and smaller prey. Not so large Robber Flies that tend to prey on bees and wasps. Your individual is a Red Footed Cannibalfly, Promachus rufipes, a species that begins to make a regular appearance among our identification requests beginning in June, and continuing through the hot summer months. The Red Footed Cannibalfly is also called a Bee Panther.